PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mural Arts Philadelphia is partnering with several local artists to dedicate a bright new mural in the Gayborhood section of Center City as a tribute to 30 years of a subculture of the city rarely acknowledged — the underground ballroom scene.
Philadelphia has lived up to its reputation as a city of trends, a city with deep roots in the arts, cultural and political movements. Philip Asbury, director of community murals, says the point of the installment is to tell the rich history of Black and LGBTQ artists who turned local dance floors into a combination of queer safe spaces with the flair of a catwalk.
“The mural is not meant to be just an additional beautiful artwork but an educational tool and also a way of anchoring these important narratives,” he said.
The underground culture began in the 1970s and 1980s in New York City. It quickly spread to other major cities, like Philadelphia. According to Asbury, the new mural on 13th Street in the Gayborhood is a declaration, a marker, and a call to action to honor the history of ballroom, the art, and the icons, here and gone.
“There are many featured in the mural ranging from Renee Karan to Jacen Bowman, who we worked with to develop this project,” he said.
Mural Arts will host a dedication ceremony on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. Then for more fun, there will be a block party featuring native Philly artists Kevin JZ Prodigy and DV VJ, as well as a mini ballroom competition with an OTA Vogue Performance.